He shakes his head in amusement. “I’ll try not to be insulted. What kind of music did you think I was into?”
“I don’t know. I always pictured you reading serious books and listening to something grown-up, like old jazz, while drinking a Scotch. Maybe smoking a pipe.”
He bursts out laughing, that lovely free laugh of his when he forgets to restrain it.
“Basically, what you’re saying is, you think of me as someone who hangs out in gentlemen’s clubs in the 1950s.”
“More like a cool spy, like the ones in those books you like.”
He gives me a look. “Are you just trying to make me feel better?”
“I bet my estimation of you is better than how you think of me.”
“Really?” He raises his eyebrows.
“You think I’m an airhead who is obsessed with celebrities.”
“Wrong,” he states simply.
“Fine. You think I’m a smart person who is obsessed with celebrities.”
He smiles into his glass.
“Well, I don’t care what you think, Ryan Jansson,” I continue brazenly. “If you ask me, you need a little more celebrity culture in your life. It’s worrying how little you know about anyone in the public eye. I’mproudof my cultural knowledge. Ask me any film and I’ll be able to tell you which actor starred in it.”
“I don’t feel the need to test you, Harper, I know that you’re—”
“Aaaaaany film! Come on! Any one! The first one you think of!” I insist.
“Okay, okay! Uh… um… I can’t think of any. My mind has gone blank!”
“You can’t think ofonefilm?”
“It’s too much pressure!”
“The first one that pops into your head! Just say it!”
“Shakespeare in Love!” he blurts out.
I stare at him. He looks upset with himself.
“Did you say…Shakespeare in Love?” I check, and press my lips together so as not to laugh in his face.
“You put me under too much pressure and it was the first film that came to mind.”
“Uh-huh.”
“My mind went blank.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of, Ryan. I’m a big fan myself.”
“I didn’t say I was abig fanof it. It was the only film I could think of.”
“Excellent performances by Joseph and Gwyneth.”
“You’re judging me.”
“I swear I’m not.”
